PHYSCOMITRELLA. 271 



find it so clearly marked as in the specimen described and figured 

 by Mrs. Britton (Bulletin, Torrey Bot. Club, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 

 62 sqq.). 



1. Physcomitrella patens B. & S. (Phascum patens Hedw.) 

 (Tab. XXXVII. L.). 



Stems very short, about 1 line in length, densely or loosely 

 gregarious. Leaves variously shaped, oblong, oval, or spathulate, 

 shortly and usually obtusely acuminate, the upper larger, forming 

 a terminal rosette ; rather obtusely serrate, nerve narrow, vanish- 

 ing below apex ; cells lax, widely rectangular or hexagonal. 

 Capsule immersed or slightly emergent, brown, thin-walled, 

 globose with an obtuse apiculus. Spores rather smaller than in 

 the previous genus, 25-30 /*, papillose. Paroicous. Antheridia 

 usually just below the fertile flower. 



Var. (3. Lucasiana Schp. Stem shorter ; leaves more crowded, 

 shorter and broader. 



Hab. Sides of pools, clay fields, &c. , not common. The var. $, Chapel-en-le- 

 Frith, Derby (Barker). Fr. autumn. 



A larger plant than any of the previously described allied species, with larger 

 broader leaves and wider cells. Perhaps it is more likely to be confused with 

 Phascum cuspidatum, but that has entire leaves with the margin recurved, and the 

 cells only about half the size. 



60. PHYSCOMITRIUM Brid. 



Plants resembling the erect-fruited species of Funaria ; 

 calyptra small, covering about half the capsule, fugacious, 

 symmetrical, 2-3 (rarely more) lobed at base. Capsule erect, 

 symmetrical, lid apiculate or rostellate, the cells arranged in 

 straight lines from the centre to the circumference, peristome 

 none. 



This genus stands in the same relationship to the other 

 Funariaceae that Pottia occupies towards the rest of the 

 Tortulacea?. A continental species, P. tetragonum (Pyramidula 

 tetragona Brid.) still more closely fills the gap between 

 Ephemerum and the higher forms, having the capsule hardly 

 raised above the perichaetial bracts. 



The small, lobed calyptra, not oblique, inflated, nor cucullate, 

 is the main character of distinction between the present genus 

 and the next. 



{Leaves almost entire ; capsule globose, wide-mouthed 1. spharicum 

 Leaves serrate above ; capsule pyriform 2. pyriformt 



